May 29, 2009

Shaman Brings Message to World

“Your children need land and nature alive and standing. We Indians want respect for our rights. You can learn with us and with our shamans. That is important not only for the Yanomami but for the future of the whole world.”

Shaman Davi Kopenawa Yanomami will tell MPs at the British Houses of Parliament that the world’s rainforests cannot be bought, and can only be saved if indigenous peoples’ land rights are recognized.

Perhaps due to the current media obsession with climate change, this is being billed as about climate change, though his message itself is not. A good example of why tribal people need to be able to represent themselves via their own communications.